Recliner pawl member
View Patent ↗A recliner mechanism comprising a base plate having a plurality of contoured extension members and a central aperture; a pivot member coupled to the central aperture of the base plate; a cam member pivotably coupled to the pivot member; a first and second disc member positioned within the base plate and supported by the contoured extension members; a tooth plate having central aperture for coupling to the pivot member and an annular ring including a plurality of teeth; a first and second pawl member positioned within the base plate and supported by the contoured extension members, the first and second pawl members having a plurality of teeth for engagement with the teeth of the tooth plate and contoured sides for engagement with the base plate, cam member, first and second disc member, and the contoured extension members.
1. A recliner mechanism for use in a vehicle seat assembly having a seat back and a seat base, the recliner mechanism comprising:
a base plate having a central aperture and a plurality of contoured bosses defining abutment surfaces;
a pivot member rotatably disposed within the central aperture and having a pivot axis substantially aligned with the central aperture of the base plate;
a cam member coupled to the pivot member for rotation with the pivot member;
a first and a second pawl member, each pawl member positioned within the base plate and guided by the abutment surfaces of a respective one of the contoured bosses;
a first and a second disc member positioned within the base plate, each disc member having surfaces engageable with the abutment surfaces of a respective one of the contoured bosses, the cam member, and a respective one of the first and second pawl members;
a tooth plate having a central aperture for coupling to the pivot member and an annular ring including a plurality of teeth, the base plate and tooth plate together enclosing the cam members, the pawl members, and the disc members;
the first and second pawl members having a plurality of teeth for engagement with the teeth of the tooth plate, and contoured sides configured for engagement with the base plate, cam member, first and second disc member, and the contoured bosses, such that actuation of the recliner mechanism rotates the pivot member, and the cam member moves the first and second pawl members and disc members and thereby disengages the teeth of the pawl members from the teeth of the tooth plate thereby releasing the recliner mechanism and enabling the seat back to be pivotably adjusted in the fore and aft directions, and at least one of the contoured bosses has an end portion that is convex and includes a concave portion adjacent the convex end portion and facing toward the annular ring of the tooth plate to limit separation forces between the base plate and the tooth plate when a force is applied to the recliner mechanism.